RINK RAP: Worker B's have their work cut out

In keeping with the microcosm of recent hockey games, the Boston Bruins' 2007-08 season will get decided in the third period. With 55 games down and 27 to go, the Bruins are right where we thought they'd be, which is nowhere in particular.

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By MICK COLAGEO

southcoasttoday.com

By MICK COLAGEO

Posted Feb. 11, 2008 at 12:10 AM

By MICK COLAGEO

Posted Feb. 11, 2008 at 12:10 AM

HOT

OvechkinAt 46 and counting, the Russian dynamo is on a pace for 67 goals, the most since Mario Lemieux scored 69 in 1995-96. Brian Pothier, out 16 games with a concussion, is unfortunately miss...

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HOT

Ovechkin

At 46 and counting, the Russian dynamo is on a pace for 67 goals, the most since Mario Lemieux scored 69 in 1995-96. Brian Pothier, out 16 games with a concussion, is unfortunately missing the surge.

DANIEL ALFREDSSON

The Ottawa captain, now 35, is getting better with age. With 34-39-73 totals, he still shares the NHL scoring lead with Ovechkin, and this despite missing six of Ottawa's last 10 games with a sore hip.

PASCAL LECLAIRE

Has emerged as the next dominant French Canadian goaltender. He's near the top in all statistical categories, leads the NHL in shutouts with 8, and the Blue Jackets could make the playoffs as a result.

NOT

Manny Fernandez

So forgotten, ESPN Radio's Andy Gresh asked a national audience on Saturday morning which former Minnesota player has impacted his Boston team the most: Kevin Garnett, Randy Moss or David Ortiz?

ISLANDERS

The implosion widely expected of the Bruins has finally befallen the Isles, who are 1-7-2 in their last 10 games, including six straight pointless losses.

TIM THOMAS

After allowing one goal in three straight starts, Thomas has allowed 3, 4 and 6 goals in succession. His GAA has grown from 2.28 to 2.43 and his save percentage has shrunk from a league-leading .931 to .925.

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In keeping with the microcosm of recent hockey games, the Boston Bruins' 2007-08 season will get decided in the third period. With 55 games down and 27 to go, the Bruins are right where we thought they'd be, which is nowhere in particular.

Don't let the 28-22-5 record fool you; seven teams have better records in the Eastern Conference, eight have worse. The Bruins couldn't be more .500 than this.

Boston, as a member of the NHL's dominant middle class, sits firmly on the bubble, unable to sustain consistency with either winning or losing and seems bound for 27 more momentum switches.

Just as it seemed that the nagging question of viable backup support for Tim Thomas was rearing its ugly head, Alex Auld shut down the Sabres in Buffalo. So the next night, the All-Star gets back in there on home ice against Florida and basically stinks. In the third period, Zdeno Chara hyperextends his right knee. It's not known if the captain's OK.

When you think the Bruins are on the ropes, they come off swinging. When they have a great opportunity to establish playoff security, they get up on the wrong side of the bed or run into an opponent slightly more desperate than they are.

It's a plight the National Hockey League meant to institute for all 30 teams with a salary cap that holds quality franchises down and a standings system that manufactures hope for all but two or three teams in each conference right up to the Feb. 26 trade deadline.

Not since 1991, when the 21-team league began its expansion toward 30, did "everybody" make the playoffs in the NHL. But in the cap era, everybody still thinks they can. If the NHL ran presidential politics, Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich would still have a shot.

After Tuesday night's home game against Carolina, the Bruins take their last major road trip of the season with games Wednesday in Pittsburgh and Saturday in Toronto before three more next week at Carolina, Florida and Tampa Bay.

Common wisdom says it might come apart right here, but the Bruins have defied common wisdom all season long.

Two of the four players considered most central to their plans, goaltender Manny Fernandez and center Patrice Bergeron, have been unavailable. Yet there was a time in December when it looked like the Bruins were one more good week away from challenging Ottawa for the conference lead.

So where to from here?

If the Bruins' bubble bursts, centers David Krejci and Vladimir Sobotka will rejoin the Providence Bruins (37-10-3) for their playoff run, making the chances of winning their first Calder Cup since 1999 more than realistic.

That was a good year for the Bruins in general. Boston won a playoff series for the only time since closing the Garden, and the championship core of prospects in Providence inspired belief that Stanley Cup contention was around the corner for Jason Allison, Sergei Samsonov, Joe Thornton and Kyle McLaren.

But that's why they play the games. To chew holes in the Bruins' fan base.

Seriously, the P-Bruins are having themselves a year, and they have players with NHL potential: most notably goaltender Tuukka Rask, defensemen Matt Hunwick and Matt Lashoff, and forwards Martins Karsums and Nate Thompson. Chiarelli has two weeks to decide if there's a trade out there worth one of these prospects for someone who can push his NHL club past the bubble and into a secure playoff position.

So far, his sacrifice of futures for quick fixes has not paid off. The understated Dec. 6 acquisition of goalie Alex Auld for minor leaguer Nate DiCasmirro and a fifth-round pick has easily yielded the best returns.

There will be major moves before the deadline. Peter Forsberg will sign somewhere, and Toronto will probably trade Mats Sundin. The underachieving New York Rangers could get involved, but don't count on the Boston Bruins for more than a minor deal.

Mick Colageo covers the Bruins for The Standard-Times and co-hosts the New England Hockey Journal Show on 890 ESPN in Boston (hockeyjournal.com) Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Contact him at mcolageo@s-t.com